Floor for brick-kilns



H. R. STRAIGHL FLOOR FOR BRICK KlLNS.

APPLICATION mm MAR. 3|. 1919.

'1 ,364, 1 55 a t d J an. 4, 1921.

'oblocks being sufficient to will not expand HALVER R. STRAIGHT, OF ABEL, IOWA.

FLOOR FOR BRICY-KILNS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4i, 1%21.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, Hnnvnn E. STRAIGHT, citizen of the United States, residing at Adel, in the county of Dallas, State of Towa, have invented new and Improved Floors for Erick-Kilns, of which the following is the specification.

My invention. pertains to floors for brick or tile kilns and particularly those of a round type, having what is known as the down draft. in kilns of this kind it is cus ternary to have the fire box built in the walls of the kiln in such'a manner that the heated air from the fire boxes passes upward to the top of the kiln and downward through the spaces between the brick or tile and through the bottom of the kiln where they are taken off by means of properly arranged conduits communicating with the chimneys.

The floors ordinarily herebefore have been built of rectangular blocks laid in rows with their ends adjacent to each other, the ends being formed with faces at right angles to the tops and bottoms of the blocks. These blocks rest on supporting walls and are so arranged that gases may pass through or between them. The hot gases passing between them causes them to expand and the adjacent ends of the blocks to engage each other; the outer blocks of the rows will then be moved longitudinally and cause the walls adjacent to the ends of the rows to be moved outwardly. This in time destroys the wall and the fire box linings. The walls adjacent to the sides of the rows are generally not materially affected, due to the fact that the number of rows of blocks in the bottom is greater than a single number of blocks in the row, the spaces between the rows of take up the lateral expansion.

Therefore the object of my invention is to provide a floor block of simple, durable and inexpensive construction so constructed when properly laid that it will eliminate the longitudinal expansion of the rows of blocks above referred to.

A further object is to provide a new and improved floor for brick and tile kilns that enough to materially injure the walls when the said floors are heated.

T obtain these objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a central sectional view of the improved floor construction showing a portion of the walls.

Fig. 2 is a top elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective View of the blocks of which the floor is constructed.

Fig. 4 shows a sectional view taken on the line 1 i of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a modified form of my block.

F 1g. 6 is a detailed sectional View showing a modified form of the filler between the ends of the blocks.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The numeral 10 indicates a wall which is of the ordinary construction and does not show the fire boxes or fire box linings. The wall 10 is provided with a ledge 11 which is for the purpose of receiving the outer ends of the end blocks of each row of blocks.

Between the walls 10, 1 have provided a series of parallel supporting walls 12. These walls are spaced equal distances apart and have their top edges in a substantially horizontal plane. The spaces between the walls 12 are arranged to communicate with a transverse conduit not shown in the drawmgs, for the purpose of drawing off the gases.

The numeral 13 indicates my improved block which is formed of plastic material burned having a length of about three times its width and i provided with a top 14c and a bottom 15 parallel with each other, sides 16 and 17 parallel with each other. The ends 18 are beveled upwardly and inwardly toward each other. The bottom 15 is provided at each end with a transverse rabbet 19. The length of the bottom 15 is slightly shorter than the distance between the centers of the supports 12.

In placing these blocks in the floor, T arrange them longitudinally in row with their ends 18 adjacent and with the top faces of the rabbets 19 resting on the top of the suports 12, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. The distance between the sides of the rabbets 19 is slightly shorter than the distance between the sides of the walls 12. This provides a groove or space 20 between the wall 12 and the face of the rabbet 19. This is for the purpose of preventing the shoulders of the rabbet 19 from engaging the sides of the wall 12 when they expand.

The ends ofthe blocks are spaced slightly apart to prevent the said ends from engaging each other as they expand. Thus it will be seen that each of the blocks 13 may expand longitudinally without the ends 18 engaging each other, also without the sides of the rabbets 19 engaging the sides of the wall 12. To permit gases to move down be tween them each of the blocks 13 is provided, in one side, with a groove 22. The said groove is considerably larger at its bottom than at its top both longitudinally and transversely. This is for the purpose of permitting any particles of broken tile or brick to pass through without lodging in the groove.

It will be seen from Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 that by arranging the blocks in rows, with their beveled ends adjacent to each other and the said rows adjacent to each other, V shaped grooves 23 will be formed above the center of each support 12. These grooves, I fill with sand or a non-combustible powdered material. This filler is for the purpose of making a smooth top to the floor upon which the ware is set.

In F ig. 6, I have shown a wedge shaped block 24- designed to fit the V shaped groove, which may be made of a fire proof material. and used in the place of the sand above referred to. On account of the block being considerably longer than its width, it will be seen that the number of rows of blocks are greater than the number 01" blocks in a row. As the blocks become heated they will expand and cause the sand or the wedge 24: to be slightly elevated. This will prevent a longitudinal movement of the rows of blocks and thereby prevent a movement of the walls.

It sometimes occurs that the heating of the walls 12 causes them to warp and to lean in one direction or the other. The shoulders of the rabbets 19 prevent them from being moved to such an extent as to cause the walls to turn over and also prevents the floors from warping up in the center in case the walls did not yield.

I have found that by providing blocks with beveled ends, a floor for tile kilns may be so constructed that an expansion of the blocks will not cause the end block of the rows of blocks to be moved outward. This is done by spacing them apart slightly greater than the expansion of the block.

The space between the ends of the block may be filled with loose material, such as sand or dust, so as to make a level floor, the expansion of the blocks will then raise the loose material slightly, due to the-beveled ends, without. moving the adjacent block. The blocks are made comparatively thin in practice, about one third 01 the length. It will thus be seen that the lateral expansion of each block will be one third of its longitudinal, the space between the rows of the block being sufficient, as ordinarily laid, to take the lateral expansion. The blocks are neces sarily made long to provide the passage between the walls 12 and for the reason it is necessary to provide means for longitudinal expansion.

By this construction, it will be seen that the bricks may be easily removed for repairs and replaced.

I claim:

1. A floor block having a rectangular top and bottom, and its sides substantially parallel, its ends beveled upward and inward and having a vertical groove in one side.

2. A floor block having its top and bottom.

substantially parallel, its ends beveled upward and inward and its sides substantially parallel, one of said sides having a vertical groove.

3. A floor block having its top and bottom parallel, its ends beveled upward and inward and its sides parallel, one of said sides having a vertical groove wider at its bottom than its top.

1. A floor block formed of plastic material and burned, having its top and bottom parallel, its ends beveled upward and inward and its sides parallel, each side being pro vided with a vertical groove for the purpose stated. 7

5. A floor block formed of plastic material and having its top and bottom parallel, the bottom side having a transverse rabbet at each end, the ends being beveled upward and inward and its sides parallel, one of the said sides being provided with a vertical groove wider at bottom than at its top.

6. A floor block having its top and bottom substantially parallel and its ends beveled upward and inward, one side being provided with a vertical groove or recess.

HALVER R. STRAIGHT. 

